Snowboard

ABSTRACT

A snow board having an elongated body with concavely curved side margins and an elongate web in its center separated from the body by lateral slots and joined with the forward and rear sections of the body in a curved configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a snow board with a divided gliding surface.

2. The Prior Art

In recent years various solutions have become known which relate to theconfiguration as well as to the technical feasibility of snow boards.These changes relate to snow boards of conventional manufacture asunitary structures as well as to snow boards of divided structure.

The configuration of snow boards as divided structures in particular isto yield improved support structures and flexibility of snow boards. Itproceeds upon the general recognition, and with due consideration of thevariously constructed runways, that the flexibility of a snow boards hasa significant effect upon its motion characteristics. When running alongcurves the properties of a snow board are determined by its laterallyconcave waistline.

The vertical flexibility of a snow board, i.e. its resilient resistanceagainst upward and downward movements of its end sections, significantlyaffects its motion characteristics. When a snow board is glidinglongitudinally over snow with its full surface in engagement therewithit is necessary by a properly designed flexibility that in dents the twoends of the snow board flex upwardly relative to the middle sections andthat over projections or elevations it provides for a certain counterflexing.

The properties of a snow board moving along curves are determined on theone hand by its waistline—the center section is generally narrower thanits end sections—and, on the other hand, by the flexibility of thelongitudinal edge facing the inside of the curve. When moving in acurve, the snow board is tipped, i.e. it tilts laterally; so that onlyits longitudinal edge at the inside of the curve is in contact with snowwhereas the edge at the outside of the curve is lifted more or less offthe snow.

German utility model specification DE 201 13 739 U1 describes a snowboard of a unitary body structure with a slot extending essentiallyalong its center axis from the rear end of the board to at least itscentral area, thus forming two separate arms connected by the unitaryfront section. The slot divides the gliding surface of the snow boardinto two separate gliding surfaces which may have a positive effect onthe gliding resistance, yet it has resulted in a change in the typicalsnow board structure by substantially reducing the narrow center sectionsuch that it has a negative effect upon running in curves.

A snow board with a divided gliding surface is disclosed by Germanspecification DE 198 20 619 A1 for providing an improved pressuredistribution profile to make snow boarding sensitive and controlled. Thedrawback of this solution is that for running the two separate glidingsurfaces must, of course, be connected such that the desired advantagesare attained. This is to be accomplished by a spring and dampeningspacer element mounted on the two gliding components between the supportplate and the gliding surface at the two gliding members. This type ofconnection is technologically and economically complex and necessitatesa different kind of binding between the snow board and the shoedifferent from the structure of conventional bindings and verycomplicated in structure.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the invention to develop a snow board with adivided gliding surface for improving straight running as well asrunning in curves.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention this is accomplished by a snow boardhaving a basic body consisting of two gliding members and an elongateweb provided between the gliding members, slots being provided betweenthe gliding members and the elongate web and the transition sitesbetween the elongate web and the forward and rear sections of the basicbody being curved.

Special embodiments and advantageous features are the subject of thesubclaims.

The invention is based upon the recognition that the practice-provenproperties of conventional snow boards as regards their configuration,structure and manufacturing process should be retained as far aspossible while substantially improving the operational properties of thesnow board relative to known solutions.

Thus, a snow board has been made the board of which consists of a basicbody structured such that in its longitudinal shape it is provided withlateral gliding members which constitute the gliding surfaces of thesnow board and that in its center it is provided with a support surfacestructured as an elevated elongate web.

As an element of the invention the gliding members and the elongate webare formed in the board such that at the front and rear sections of thesnow board they blend into closed forward and rear elements thuscreating a one-piece snow board with divided gliding surfaces.

Particular emphasis was placed upon the snow board providing orincluding the advantages of a one-piece snow board by the width of itsforward and rear sections corresponding to that of conventional snowboards.

Another element of the invention is that in its middle section the snowboard has a waistline formed by the longitudinal shape of its twogliding members.

While the lower surfaces constitute the gliding surfaces of the snowboard, the support surface which would bear a the user, is formed by anelongate web which is provided with appropriate brackets, e.g. inserts,for attaching commercially available bindings. Preferably, the elongateweb is spaced about 3 cm to 5 cm from the lateral gliding members sothat the two gliding surfaces with their gliding members are distinctand blend or transition into the forward and rear full-surface glidingareas of the snow board.

The configuration of the snow board with an elevated elongate web yieldstwo substantial advantages. As a result of the divided gliding surfacesthe flexibility of the snow board is increased, which favorably affectsits running properties, and the gliding resistance or friction isreduced.

Not only does the elevated elongate web lead to increased flexibility ofthe snow board, but it also improves its functionality, especially forrunning in curves. The difference in height between the elongate web andthe lateral gliding members, i.e. the space between bindings and glidingmembers, is compensated by providing spacers on the surfaces of thegliding members in the area of the bindings. The thickness of thespacers equals the difference in height between the gliding members andthe elongate web. The spacers may be attached on the surfaces of thegliding members by adhesive. Advantageously, analogous to the fasteningof the bindings on the elongate web, the spacers are replaceably andadjustably mounted which positively affects manufacture and costs.

In a further embodiment of the invention the differences in heightbetween the gliding members and the elongate web may be compensated byspacers mounted on the bindings at their engagement surfaces at the toeand heel portions. The height of such spacers would be the same as thedifference in height between the elongate web and the gliding members.Such an arrangement would satisfy the requirement or desire of thoseusers who prefer to run the snow board with their feet in varyingpositions. At the same time, the pressure on the gliding surface isincreased during use of the snow board, and the stability is improved.

In accordance with the present invention the variability of the footpositions on the snow board is brought about by guide rails provided onor in the elongate web and extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe snow board. The bindings are mounted on the rails for longitudinaladjustment.

The unitary structure of the snow board also yields advantages asregards its manufacture. Thus, the snow board may be made of plastic,fibers or wood, as well as of other materials which positively affectmanufacturing techniques and economies.

The snow board in accordance with the present invention offers reducedfriction or gliding resistance between its gliding surfaces and snow aswell as significantly reduced noise. In the snow board, the propertiesof three different types of snow boards are united, so that, atappropriate widths, it can be used as a racing board, as a generalpurpose snow board as well as a deep-snow board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, in respect of its structure, construction andlay-out as well as its manufacturing techniques, together with otheradvantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from thedescription herein set forth of preferred embodiments when read inconnection with the appended sole drawing which is a perspective view ofthe snow board in its entirety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The accompanying drawing directly illustrates the configuration of thesnow board 1 in its entirety, showing it as a unitary board. The snowboard 1 consists of two gliding members 2 and 3 formed at the twolongitudinal sides of the snow board 1. The gliding members 2 and 3 arespaced at a certain distance from each other which is determined by thearrangement and structure of an elongate web 4 extending from a forwardarea 5 of the snow board 1 to a rear area 6 and having a preferredheight of up to 5 cm above the gliding members 2 and 3. Gliding members2 and 3 are separated from elongate web 4 by longitudinal slots 11.

At their outer edges, the gliding members 2 and 3 are concavely curvedto provide the waistline 9. The upper surface of the elongate web 4serves as a support surface for a snow boarder and is provided withinserts 7 in the area where ski bindings are to be attached. In the areaof the inserts 7, laterally of the snow board 1, there are providedheight compensating support blocks or spacers 8 on the gliding members 2and 3. The spacers 8 serve to support toe and heel sections of a userand thus directly transmit the movements of the user's foot to thegliding members of the snow board 1 and prevent unintended tiltingmovements.

1. A snow board with a divided gliding surface, comprising: a basic bodyconsisting of two gliding members and an elongate web provided betweenthe gliding members, lateral slots being provided between the glidingmembers and the elongate web, and transition sites between the elongateweb and forward and rear sections of the basic body, said transitionsites being curved.
 2. The snow board of claim 1, wherein the elongateweb is structured as a support surface for a snow boarder and the slotsbetween the gliding members and the elongate web have a height of up to5 cm.
 3. The snow board of claim 1, wherein the gliding members have awaistline extending in a longitudinal direction, and spacers arranged onsurfaces of the gliding members.
 4. The snow board of claim 1, whereinspacers are releasably connected with the gliding members.
 5. A snowboard, comprising: an elongated unitary body of predetermined lengthforming first and second gliding members extending along oppositelateral margins thereof; an elongate web extending between the first andsecond gliding members and being joined to forward and rear sections ofthe body in a curved transition and separated from the first and secondgliding members by lateral slots.
 6. The snow board of claim 5, whereinthe elongate web protrudes from the surface of the body by from 3 to 5cm.
 7. The snow board of claim 6, wherein the elongate web is providedwith means for connecting bindings.
 8. The snow board of claim 7,wherein the means for connecting bindings comprises inserts.
 9. The snowboard of claim 7, further comprising spacers of a height substantiallyequal to a protrusion of the elongate web and attached to one of thegliding members and the bindings.
 10. The snow board of claim 5, whereinthe first and second gliding members have elongated lateral margins ofconcavely curved configuration.